1. United States
Public Health Service

2. USPHS History 1798 - Marine Hospital Service established.
PHS Commissioned Corps officially established by Congress, with rank and pay similar to Navy.
Renamed Public Health Service.
Transferred from the Treasury Department to the Federal Security Agency (now known as the Department of Health and Human Services)

3. USPHS Commissioned Corps Mission
Protecting, promoting and advancing the health and safety of the Nation

4. USPHS Commissioned Corps One of the Seven Uniformed Services

5. U. S. Public Health Service
Part of Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
Dual Personnel System - includes civil servants and Corps Officers
Approx. 60,000 employees combined
Close to 6,000 Commissioned Officers
Led by the Surgeon General

6. VADM Regina Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A.
Surgeon General of
the United States

7. HHS Operating Divisions
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

8. HHS Operating Divisions
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Indian Health Service (IHS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

9. Non-HHS Agencies who hire officers
Division of Immigration Health Services (DIHS)
Department of Defense (DOD)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
National Park Service (NPS)
U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
U. S. Coast Guard (USCG)
U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
U. S. Marshals Service (USMS)

10. Professional Categories
Physician
Nurse
Dentist
Pharmacist

11. Professional Categories (cont’d.)
Veterinarian
Engineer
Scientist
Environmental Health Officer
Therapist
Dietitian
Health Services Officer

12. Eligibility Criteria U. S. citizenship
< 44 years of age (can be offset by up to 8 years of prior uniformed service)
Qualifying degree from an approved accredited institution
< 8 years prior service (active duty)
Medically and physically fit

13. Pay and Benefits Pay scale based on rank and time in service
Some categories have additional special pay
Non-taxable housing and subsistence allowances
30 days of paid leave per year (2.5 days per month)
Sick leave granted as needed (with no preset limit)
Non-contributory retirement (based on a year career)

14. Pay and Benefits
Serviceman’s Group Life Insurance for officer and spouse
Comprehensive healthcare (medical and dental) to keep an officer fit for duty and medical care for family
VA benefits (survivor and disability benefits, burial allowance, home loans, educational program, etc.)
Military Base/Post privileges (commissary, exchange, officer’s club, etc.)
Space available (Space-A) travel on U. S. military aircraft to numerous locations throughout the world – Europe, HI, AK, Caribbean, Asia

15. Student Opportunities
Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (COSTEP)
Junior ( day short tours and no post obligation)
Senior (Receive approximately $2,500 per month during final year of qualifying degree and 2 for 1 payback of days sponsored)
See for details and deadlines

16. How to Get Started?
It is a dual process to become an officer in the USPHS. Which differs greatly from the other uniformed services.
The USPHS grants a Commission, whereas government programs offer the employment.
A Commission cannot be granted to an individual until employment is offered and accepted

17. How to Get Started? Meet eligibility requirements for the Corps
Begin Commissioned Corps application process by going to
Start pursuing employment with any of the Commissioned Corps affiliated Agencies
Once a job offer is made by the Agency, the Office of Commissioned Corps Operations (OCCO) will coordinate a “Call to Active Duty” date and issue personnel orders.

18. Job Search http://dcp.psc.gov/VATS/rept_select.htm (recommended site)
(alternate)
We recommend that individuals start the Commissioned Corps application process and the job search with government programs simultaneously.

19. QUESTIONS?